Last month, CBS Sports released a springtime ranking of college football’s best players, and two Clemson defenders — rising senior linebacker Barrett Carter and rising sophomore defensive end T.J. Parker — were ranked among the top 100 players entering the 2024 season.

Carter, a 2022 All-American and 2023 All-ACC selection, checked in at No. 24 overall on the list. Parker, meanwhile, came in at No. 78 in the ranking following his freshman All-American season last year.

This week, CBS Sports followed up its ranking of college football’s top 100 players in the 2024 season with another list – the next crop of top players in the sport, or as CBS Sports described it, “college football’s second tier of stars for the 2024 season” and “players who could crack the Top 100.”

CBS Sports ranked those players from Nos. 101-150, and a quartet of Clemson standouts made the list in offensive tackle Blake Miller, defensive lineman Peter Woods, safety Khalil Barnes and running back Phil Mafah.

Mafah is ranked the highest among them at No. 108.

The rising senior is coming off a 2023 campaign during which he recorded career highs in rushing attempts (179), rushing yards (965), rushing touchdowns (13), receptions (21) and receiving yards (108) over 13 games (five starts).

“Will Shipley left early for the NFL Draft, but Clemson truthers will tell you the best running back from last season’s tandem — Mafah — is sticking around,” CBS Sports’ Blake Brockermeyer wrote. “The Georgia native had a breakout season punishing ACC defenders with his physical and explosive running style (Notre Dame got it, too, as Mafah steamrolled for 186 yards and two touchdowns on an absurd 36 carries). Mafah is an excellent all-around back in protection and the passing game as well.”

Barnes checked in at No. 115 in the ranking.

A 2023 Freshman All-American, Barnes became the first Clemson player in the Dabo Swinney era to record multiple forced fumbles and multiple interceptions in a freshman season. He was one of three players in the country (and the only freshman) with at least three interceptions, three or more forced fumbles and one sack in 2023.

“A True Freshman All-American is primed to have a huge season after forcing three fumbles and tallying three interceptions in seven starts last year,” Brockermeyer wrote. “Barnes finished the season strong as his reps increased as a force on the back end in both phases. He’s likely to become a big name this fall.”

Another 2023 Freshman All-American, Woods, is ranked No. 131.

Woods was credited with 27 tackles (2.5 for loss) and a forced fumble over 12 games (two starts) last season after entering Clemson as ESPN’s No. 9 overall prospect.

“Did a nice job his freshman season getting his feet wet but is expected to make the jump with Tyler Davis and Ruke Orhorhoro off to the league,” Brockermeyer wrote. “Woods is excellent in both phases and plays with excellent hand placement with the ability to shock and shed opponents and take on doubles.”

Ranked close behind Woods is Miller, who appeared at No. 137.

A 2022 Freshman All-American and 2023 All-ACC selection, Miller enters 2024 having played 1,949 offensive snaps over 27 career games (all starts). He has started every game for Clemson at right tackle since arriving prior to the start of the 2022 season, making him the first Clemson non-specialist to start every game of the season in both his freshman and sophomore years since Clelin Ferrell from 2016-17 after Ferrell redshirted in 2015.

“A rising junior, Miller is a two-year starter at right tackle and is one of the most dominant run blockers in the nation but struggles in pass protection at times,” Brockermeyer wrote. “Plays with a nasty streak and strong hands and base at the point. If he can clean up his pass sets, he has the ability to be really good.”

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